Beaulieu, Jean-Pierre de

b. 26 October 1725, Jodoigne, near Namur (Brabant)

d. 22 December 1819, Linz

"He had served since 1743, and had served, as a Captain of infantry or an ADC, throughout the Seven Years War. He had only become a Major-General in the Austrian army at the time of the revolution in Brabant in 1789, in which his only son had been killed. On 2 October 1790, he was promoted Lieutenant-General, and had held his own on the plains of Belgium against Dumouriez in 1792, and Jourdan in 1794. Quartermaster-General (chief of staff) to the army of York, then Clerfayt, on 21 August 1794, he received the rank of Feldzeugmeister shortly before succeeding De Vins in the army of Italy. Dismissed, like Wallis and De Vins, in June 1796, he retired from the service to live among his artistic collection, and died almost a centenarian in his castle at Linz on 22 December 1819." Bouvier, F. Bonaparte en Italie, 1796, 1899, p. 684-5.

Entered the regiment of the Duke of Lorraine in 1743 as an ensign. On the HQ staff in 1757. Served as ADC to Daun during the Seven Years War. Was at Kolin, the storming of Schweidnitz, at Breslau, Leuthen, Olmütz, Gera, and Maxen. Made a Knight of the Order of Maria Theresa on 23 January 1760. Spent the years of peace collecting works of art, books, etc. Promoted colonel in 1768. Lost his only son, who was serving under him as a captain, in the Belgian revolution of 1789. Made commander of the Order of Maria Theresa in 1790, and was promoted General-Major and Feldmarschall-Lieutenant in the same year. In 1792 commanded a division serving under the Duke of Saxe-Teschen. Fought at Jemappes on 29 and 30 April, and at Menin. In the meantime, Beaulieu was made Inhaber of IR 31 in 1792. He then became Inhaber of IR 58 in 1794. On 7 July of that year he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa. He was promoted Feldzeugmeister in 1796, and was appointed to command in Italy on 17th March of that year. After a series of disasters, he gave up the command on 25 May. He retired to his property at Linz. His home in Jodoigne and his artistic collection had been destroyed by the Belgian rebels and the invasion of the French troops. His only son had died of his wounds on 25 June 1790, and his son-in-law, Baron Maelcamp was also mortally wounded at Ostrach. During the campaigns of 1805 and 1809, his home at Linz was looted by French soldiers. Of his three bothers, one was mortally wounded at Breslau, another was killed at Hochkirch, and the third died of a wound in 1782. Source: Wurzbach, C., von. Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich, 1856-91, vol. 1, pp. 199-200.

Beaulieu was 17 years old when he was admitted to the regiment of the Governor-General of the Netherlands, Prince Charles of Lorraine. "Doué d'un caractère audacieux et d'un activité dévorante, il se fit de suite remarquer et obtint bientôt une sous-lieutenance en récompense de son zèle et de son application. Pendant la guerre de la succession d'Autriche, qui s'ouvrit en 1744, il trouva de fréquentes occasions de déployer une intrépidité et un sang-froid qui furent cités plusieurs fois, avec éloge, dans les rapports officiels de l'époque." First wound at Kolin. Promoted major, lieutenant-colonel, Knight of the Order of Maria Theresa, and made baron. After the war, promoted colonel on the staff at the instance of FM Daun. In 1768 attached to the military government of the Netherlands. Spent the long years between military studies, agriculture, and his gardens at Brocqui, which he designed. There was a revolt in Brabant in 1789. Beaulieu was promoted general-major in 1789 and had an important role in the campaign of 1790 against the rebels. Promoted feldmarschall-lieutenant, commander of the Order of Maria Theresa, and made Inhaber of a Hungarian regiment, the first Belgian to obtain such an honour. In 1792, he helped push back the French invasion of Belgium while commanding a corps. Beaulieu served with great distinction in Belgium. He commanded the main attack column at Fleurus and greatly contributed to the victory of the first day (16 June). At the 2nd battle of Fleurus (26 June) he made great inroads into the enemy before being ordered to retreat by Coburg. Beaulieu was then relieved of his command by Coburg. Notwithstanding, the Emperor awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa (1794), and made him QMG of the army when Clerfayt took over from Coburg. He held this position until the beginning of the following year (1795). Given command in Italy with rank of Feldzeugmeister. Source: Biographie nationale de Belgique, 1866-1986.